NMSU Raises $154 Million In Contracts And Grants

Las Cruces – Faculty and staff at New Mexico State University whose research projects generated funding of $1 million or more during the 2008-2009 fiscal year were honored this month.

The plaques and certificates were awarded by NMSU President Barbara Couture and Vimal Chaitanya, NMSU's vice president for Research, Graduate Studies and International Programs.

A special reception at NMSU's Stan Fulton Athletic Center to recognize the efforts of 46 researchers in six academic colleges, the College of Extended Learning and Student Success, New Mexico Space Grant Consortium, Physical Science Laboratory and NMSU's Dona Ana Community College.

NMSU researchers brought in $154 million in contracts and grants for the fiscal year 2008-2009, some 76 percent of which was brought in by the researchers who were recognized at the special reception.

"Research and scholarly activity can be measured in many ways," Chaitanya said. "Today we are recognizing these outstanding researchers who brought in more than a million dollars during the fiscal year 2008-2009.

"We are grateful to them and other researchers who are serving the needs of the local community, state, nation and indeed the world while training our students in conducting responsible research," Chaitanya said. "For a land-grant institution like NMSU, classified as a high research doctoral university by the Carnegie Foundation, research is a very important component. It helps in economic development of the state, strengthens graduate degree programs and attracts outstanding talent to be part of our community."